Issues and Policy Direction to Combat the Effect of Climate Change on Agriculture and Economic Development in Sub Saharan Africa

Abstract

In recent time, scholars have shown much interest on addressing the problems of climate change. This is because of its associated effects on social, economic and the environment. The threats of climate change are more severe in developing countries, partially due to geography. In addressing this situation and mitigating its multifarious effects, the government and these countries have evolved adaption and mitigating strategies. However, these efforts must go beyond good development policy, be proactive, and explicitly target the impacts of climate change and energy (biomass) developments on the poor. As the global food equation is changing as a result of energy shortage and climate change, the world is not only confronted with agriculture and energy policy issues, but also with broader social, environmental, and security issues. The needed response involves a combination of science, institutional, and policy innovations, which should be taken into account in global, regional, and national strategies, and should have three main elements. This paper provides a direction on the best possible means of achieving effective and sustainable policy measures in addressing the problems of climate change in sub Saharan Africa.